Text: Isaiah 45:1-25
In the previous chapter we see Cyrus being nominated as God’s shepherd, in the sense prefiguring the Greater Redeemer. In this chapter, we see great things that God is going to do for Cyrus in order to release God’s people (vv.1-4). God would prove Himself (vv. 5-7); a prayer to quicken God’s deliverance (v.8), a call to unbelieving Jews (vv. 9-10), the affirmation to the believing Jews who have faith in God (vv. 11-15), a warning to idol worshippers and their judgement and the security of true worshippers of God (vv. 16-25). Cyrus was God’s anointed and in this particular context, King Cyrus was set apart by God for a divine purpose. He was not a Jew but a Persian monarch yet he played a unique role as Israel’s Shepherd (44:28) and also an anointed judge of nations.
It is important to note that Prophet Isaiah wrote of King Cyrus about 200 years before Cyrus would be a king.
You as a child of God you are anointed to shepherd God’s people and expand His Kingdom.
Meditate on verse 1. What encouragement do you get from this verse?
Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, anoint me and open for me doors so that nobody can shut them. Amen.